News Brief
PM Modi To Launch Rs 62,000-Crore Youth Development Initiatives On Saturday; Focus On Education, Skilling and Entrepreneurship
PM Modi (File Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a series of initiatives worth over Rs 62,000 crore aimed at expanding opportunities in education, skilling and entrepreneurship on Saturday (4 October), according to a PMO release.
The programme, to be held at Vigyan Bhawan, will also feature the fourth edition of the National Skill Convocation, where 46 All India Toppers from Industrial Training Institutes will be felicitated.
At the centre of the programme is the launch of Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU), a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of Rs 60,000 crore.
The scheme will upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs through a hub-and-spoke model—200 hubs connected to 800 spokes—introducing advanced infrastructure, modern trades, incubation facilities, and digital learning systems.
The model, which will be government-owned but industry-managed, will see clusters run by Anchor Industry Partners to ensure market-driven, outcome-based skilling.
Supported by global co-financing from the World Bank and ADB, PM-SETU will also establish innovation centres, training-of-trainers hubs, and placement services.
In the first phase of the scheme implementation, there will be special focus on ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs across 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in 34 States and UTs.
These labs will train students—including those in remote and tribal areas—in 12 high-demand sectors such as IT, automotive, agriculture, and tourism.
Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and CBSE curriculum, the initiative also includes training for 1,200 vocational teachers, creating early employability pathways.
Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana: A revamped scheme offering a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for two years and free skill training to nearly five lakh graduate youth annually.
Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme: Redesigned to provide interest-free loans up to Rs 4 lakh for higher education. So far, 3.92 lakh students have availed loans worth Rs 7,880 crore.
Bihar Yuva Ayog: A statutory commission for youth aged 18–45, dedicated to channelising the state’s youthful energy.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University in Bihar, envisioned as a hub for vocational and industry-oriented courses.
The Prime Minister will lay foundation stones under PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) for new facilities at four universities: Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (Madhepura), Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya (Chapra), and Nalanda Open University (Patna).
With an investment of Rs 160 crore, these projects will benefit over 27,000 students with modern hostels, labs, and multidisciplinary infrastructure.
He will also dedicate the Bihta campus of NIT Patna to the nation. Hosting 6,500 students, the campus boasts a 5G use case lab, a Regional Academic Centre for Space (in collaboration with ISRO), and an incubation centre supporting start-ups.
Further strengthening youth welfare, PM Modi will distribute appointment letters to over 4,000 newly recruited candidates in Bihar’s government and transfer Rs 450 crore in scholarships to 25 lakh Class 9 and 10 students under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.
